Birthmas 2011

Okay finally. Here it is in all it's anti-climatic glory....because someone (me) left their memory card in their laptop and therefore could not take pictures with their camera. EPIC FAIL. However I managed to document a few things with the old Blackberry. And here they are.

Friday night we went out with Drew's brother and his wife to The Melting Pot. I have never experienced fondu before, but as Drew said "it's fonnnn to du it!" so I knew all would be well. It was so delicious I ate so much bread and broccoli covered in cheese. Then there was dessert. Ohhhh the glorious pot of chocolate and all the amazing things you could dip in it. I need a fondu set. Going on the Birthmas list for next year.

Christmas eve day was spent at Target because I forgot how to pack and left some necessities at home, and at Cub Foods to buy groceries for the weekend. We made black bean soup and grilled cheese sandwiches and listened to Christmas music to get in the festive mood before heading to family Christmas. Drew even wanted to wear this sweater.

While I appreciated his holiday spirit...I just could be seen with him like that.

 Now, I've been used to pretty small Christmas gatherings since 2005. Maybe 8 people tops. Prior to that my Christmases consisted of family gatherings at my grandparents house where there were maybe 25 people 30 at most. Drew has 21 first cousins. TWENTY ONE. Add him and his brothers that makes 25 grandchildren. It was overwhelming at first but after the second drink I was a-ok. 

Now on to the gifts!

First up, something I've been pining over at REI for I don't even know how long. And now, they're mine!

No, I have never gone snowshoeing before. However, I love hiking and snow hiking seems like fun. Now we just need some GD snow so I can use these and also use my other gift....

Patagonia snowpants! Despite it being 40 something degrees Christmas Day, I wore these home to Minneapolis. I cant wait to actually use them. 

I also got a Columbia fleece jacket, a North Face half zip fleece, annnndddd....

A flying lesson! Thats right in spring I will get a crash course in flying and actually get to sit in the cockpit and wear my aviators and bomber jacket and only answer to Maverick. 

Christmas evening Drew took me out to dinner to our favorite Indian restaurant (and I do mean favorite) Gandhi Mahal. I ate so much palak paneer I actually thought I was going to puke on the sidewalk. No joke. It really was touch and go there for a while. 

So there you have it. Birthmas 2011! I could not have planned it better myself. Full of food, family and friends and love :)

Cheers!

Marisa

Home Sweet Home

For the first time in a month neither Drew nor I will be getting in a car and traveling this weekend. I'm looking forward to it but at the same time am bummed since that means I won't be seeing Drew. :( I think we've been spoiled over the last month getting to spend so much time together. This past weekend was an absolute blast as we attended our very first wedding together, with a bunch of old friends. Many beers were had, much dancing was done, and hopefully there are very few pictures of it as I'm sure I was anything but graceful. To add to the wedding festivities already happening, we learned our good friends had gotten engaged that weekend. Something was definitely in the air that weekend and I'm pretty sure it was love :)

(via)

I picked that photo because Drew holds my hand always and I LOVE IT. Which reminds me of a story I forgot to tell when we were in Duluth. We were walking down the street to go get some lunch and are approaching a mom carrying her young daughter. 

Kid: Mommy look! They're walking together! (meaning holding hands)

Mom: They are because they love each other.

Kid: YAYYY!!!!!!

I wish I could send that kid a card. It made my life :)

Have you had enough of the love fest going on over here? Yes? Okay lets talk golf and beer.

Tomorrow is my company golf outing which means it's time for the annual dragging of my golf clubs out of the basement. Yes I have clubs, but no I cannot golf for shit. But I'm da bomb at drinking beers and driving a golf cart. And really, what else is there to golf? If you don't follow me on twitter you should probably start as tomorrow will be a tweet fest of my amazing beer drinking golfing abilities. 

So follow me @marisa84 and stay tuned. I'm setting my sights high and hoping to win the shortest drive prize. Wish me luck!

Cheers

Marisa

Hit it hard every yard for ISU!!!!

Oh hey. Remember me? The girl who's been traveling non stop for the last couple of weeks, yeah thats me. 'Bout time for a GD update. So here it is. I survived camping. AND I actually had fun! Tettegouche State Park was absolutely beautiful and the weather could not have been more perfect nor could my company be any better :)

(Camping essentials...I still don't know what half of it is)

We pitched a tent, made a fire and I called upon my gathering skills and collected twigs for the fire while Drew was in charge of the food. Also I think it goes without saying that we gorged ourselves on S'mores. I forgot how awesome they are.

(Campsite view of Lake Superior)

In the morning we got to watch the sunrise over the lake while eating oatmeal and drinking our coffee. Then something happened that made my entire camping trip. While eating breakfast I looked down over the bluff to see not one but FOUR river otters playing about in the lake. For an animal lover like myself it was the best morning ever.

So moral of the story being if you can get yourself to Tettegouche in the fall because it's absolutely amazing even if you're not the biggest camper.....yet.

So what the heck is with the post title. My Iowa friends know...some may be cheering along...some may be crying in their beers still. This past weekend was the BIGGEST weekend in football in Iowa. The Iowa vs Iowa State game. Iowa is considered the powerhouse football team in the state. Big Ten blah blah blah. However the game was held in Ames this year and of course we were up there at 6:30am cracking open a cold one and cheering on our alma mater. It was an INTENSE game with not one but THREE overtimes with the Cyclones coming out victorious. Seriously I never enjoyed seeing so many faces in so much misery as I did at the bar when Iowa State scored the winning touchdown. The Iowa fans were being particularly rude and well typical Iowa douchebags so it made it all the more amazing. I also may have gotten angry and threw an empty beer can into the crowd at one point. Whatever they were jerks. Anyways, from what I can recall it was a great day and all I need to remember is that the Cyclones won and Iowa City can suck it.

How about everyone else? Any other football victories this weekend? Anyone else throw some beer cans at douchebags?

Cyclone Cheers!

Marisa

BDE With The BBE

I am all about the acronyms lately. Haha. So It's Monday and that means recapping the Best Day Ever with the Best Boy Ever!!!!!!!  I don't really have any pictures as I forgot my camera at home which I think was for the best so then I wasn't constantly interrupting the day trying to get the right shot. Just got to enjoy all my time with Drew and boy did we do a ton of stuff! I'll recap it in list form.

8:00am: Breakfast. French Toast made by me. I concede that I am not as awesome at breakfast as Drew. I may not be as awesome at cooking as Drew. Ah well. 

10:15am: Head down to the East Village/Capitol. Perused the grounds while waiting for the shops to open up.

11:00am: Hit various shops in the East Village. Drew got some cool spices at All Spice and I got some more Caldrea dish soap at my all time favorite Eden . Drew being the best boy ever was a good sport and smelled a bunch of candles and voted for our favorite Votivo scent. And by our I mean we totally voted for two different candles. Whatever.

Noonish: Lunch at Noodle Zoo!!!!! It was so amazing. Seriously I have yet to take someone there that didn't think it was super amazing delicious. After an amazing lunch, Drew 100% proved himself worthy of the title of best boy ever.

1:00pm:

Harry Potter at the IMAX!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG it was so amazing! Beyond words! I want to see it 500 MORE TIMES!!!!!! 

After the movie we also spent time at the Science Center where Liam Neeson taught us about black holes, we built a rocket, race cars, and Drew helped a dad and his son build the Gateway Arch. 

Think the day is done? Oh no far from it!

4:30pm: Italian American Heritage Festival. We listened to some guy play some traditional Italian folk music with instruments made out of goat skin (ew), drank some delish sangria and learned about the different states in Italy.

6:00pm: Dinner at Cuatro with some happy hour margaritas. Good and much needed after the long day we'd already had. Once we were refueled it was off to the horse races!

7:00pm: Prairie Meadows race track and casino. Mostly did people watching. But occasionally watched the horses. It was such a perfect night out, I could've just sat there all night. But! After watching some craps and Drew deciding he didn't want to become a poor hobo, we met the bestie and her bf downtown for drinks

9:00pm: Royal Mile. We started here sitting on the patio, drinking some beers and enjoying the nice weather finally in Des Moines. ( It didn't last however. It's hot as hell right now.) The bestie however, enjoyed an entire butt.

After Royal Mile we went to another bar, more drinks were had and then we called it a night. It was midnight and we'd been out and about since 10am. Whew! Talk about a long day, but the BEST day!!!!!

Are you still with me? You're all such good friends :) So there you have it. The Best Day Ever. I have not had so much fun in a long time. Not since I was in Minnesota last :) I can't wait to do it again and very very very soon. How was everyone else's weekend? Hopefully just as amazing!

Cheers!

Marisa

TGUK, Minneapolis, and Real Maple Syrup

As you've probably gathered from the title I was in Minneapolis this weekend to see The Get Up Kids and stayed with one of my very best friends from college, Drew. Who made homemade maple syrup and gave me a bottle. Hence the real maple syrup. Now that that is cleared up, lets move on. 

Minneapolis houses a few pretty awesome things. The Mall of America, Ikea...okay two awesome things. 3 if you count Drew. The Get Up Kids were playing in Iowa City but I decided to just kill a bird with a stone and see a band and a friend and get out of Des Moines for the weekend. So my hungover self  (Happy Birthday Seth!!!) made the ever exciting drive to the Twin Cities. No I don't have any pictures from the drive. Have you ever driven from Des Moines to Minneapolis? Anyways, I was pretty much recovered by the time I arrived and actually felt that solid food was a good idea. So after being hungover all day resisting the urge to vom along Interstate 35, what is better than raw fish, eel and warm rice wine? Drew took me to Wakame by Lake Calhoun in the super hipster Uptown. It was absolutely amazing and know what was even better? Ben and Jerry's being next door. So naturally after dinner we hit it and I got my most favorite ice cream ON A CONE!!!!!!

(Late Night Snack!!!!)

Drew got his Late Night Snack in a dish and then was sad about it. Lucky for him I like him so I shared my cone.

After dinner and dessert, we did what anyone would naturally do next. Hit up the liquor store for some wine. 2 bottles of wine, Charlie the Unicorn, Kittens Inspired By Kittens later, I was well on my way to a repeat of the previous morning. However Sunday morning was 1 million times more awesome because it involved eggs, peanut butter and banana toast and french pressed coffee. And no not at a restaurant. I know be jealous. 

Sunday involved an Ikea excursion, and a viewing of Horrible Bosses which I thought was hilarious. Then it was time to get ready for The Get Up Kids!!!!!!!!

(Waiting for the bus taking pictures. Blue Moon Cafe.)

 

From the bus we took the "light rail". Which is basically Minneapolis speak for train.

Finally we arrived at our destination: the Triple Rock Social Club. I wish I had more pictures/ better pictures, but I think my camera has finally bit the dust. It's had a good life. RIP camera :(

 

So far I've seen Saves The Day, now The Get Up Kids. All thats left is Something Corporate and The Ataris and it will complete my high school band nostalgia tour. I don't know if it will happen, but I'll keep trying.

So! Kick ass, super awesome weekend of awesomeness. Which included a Monday breakfast of buttermilk and honey pancakes with blackberries and real maple syrup. Then I had to drive back to Des Moines. And this morning I had to make my own breakfast :( Booooooo.

Cheers!

Marisa

80/35

Okay so finally got my act together. And without further ado here was my 80/35 experience.

First started off with Bitch

Bitch is a feminist, punk, super awesome band. I wasn't sure what to expect but I absolutely loved them. I hope to see them again.

After Bitch was Jessica Lea Mayfield.

 

Girl is good, and not to mention super cute, but it was quite a shift from Bitch. Still if I was needing some calm music for blogging or chilling she'd be it. Then the generator blew and cut her set a littttle short. Which also put them even farther behind. That was cool though because then we got to hang out, drink sangria and meet new friends.

(You remember Bear Face right?)

We also had the opportunity to listen to the we're-working-on-fixing-the-generator music and get our dance on.

(Mike's only dance move...which resembles butter churning)

Once the generator was fixed Blackalicious was up next. I stuck around for a while but then got bored.

So I decided to go get a martini, and jot down some things I wanted to make sure made it into this post before I was too drunk. After my martini I met up with Mike and Kim at Cab Co. , then eventually made my way down to meet up with my other friends down at the Locust Tap.

All in all it was a fun night of music drinks, bears and dancing in Des Moines! Can't wait for next year. 

Cheers!

Marisa

Mumford and Sons

Was amazing!!!!!!!!! Aside from the girl in front of me who was smoking joints and jumping around like a spaz. (She eventually chucked her phone with one of her fist pumps) Please enjoy the photos! 

(Representing and starting the night off right)

(Matthew and The Atlas, they were really great check them out)

(Nathanial Rateliff and Fairchildren, check them out too)

(OMG MY BOYFRIEND!!!!!!!!!!!)

(OMG MY BOYFRIEND AGAIN!!!!!!!)

(Oh yeah, Marcus Mumford....JK He is amazing too)

(Ben Lovett...he plays the accordion too. Which is hot)

(Ted Dwane..bad ass bass player and funny guy)

There you have it Start listening to Mumford and Sons. But stay away from my boyfriend. Or else....

Cheers,

Marisa

Beer Olympics 2011

So in the effort to be a good sport about this whole fractured foot, I decided to try carrying on with my life and that meant attending the Beer Olympics at my friend John's house this weekend. I couldn't really participate, but I can drink beer and was given a hard hat, safety vest and a fire extinguisher and made the safety officer. Did I use the fire extinguisher you ask? Why yes I did. I put out a flaming tree stump. I may have asked someone to light it on fire so I could put it out, but whatever. It still counts and I am totally Fire Marshall Bill.

Anyways, there was a keg and even, an Olympic Flame

(seriously go check out the stuff he builds. He's like a mad scientist....who looks like a cross between Ryan Gosling and Jake Gyllenhaal, not like a creepy old dude with crazy white hair and huge glasses.)

I was put in charge of keeping score, which I did a reallly poor job of. I was also in charge of John's dog Vegas and his neighbors probably think someone from the local asylum escaped and kidnapped his dog because I was walking him around in the hard hat and safety vest...and I was also wearing my boot. Awesome I know. But at the end due to my poor score keeping abilities and all participants being drunk and not caring, everyone was a winner somehow!

(The bestie before the events testing out the podium she painted and holding up the sweet medals she made. )

That night since the bestie and I are drunks party like rockstars we went out to some local establishments where we met a really fun bunch of guys that were out for a bachelor party and one really weird dude that followed us into The Lift. I don't know if he thought throwing out 20 questions was a socially acceptable way to meet people or if he was just socially ackward. Either way he started out with "which one of us was the craziest" followed by "what is your most awesome make-out story". He took the cake though for having made out with a girl in a giant pumpkin. I know....we didn't ask too many questions.

I've learned though that life with this stupid boot isn't so bad. No I can't run and yes that sucks, but I can still be part of the human race and do things with my friends. And drink which really, is the most important thing. I'm off to see Mumford and Sons today which I'm soooooooooo excited for! Can't wait to tell you all about how I make Winston Marshall my new boyfriend. You're all going to be so jealous. 

Cheers!

Marisa

Where Did My Weekend Go?

That's what I'd like to know. Seriously I had a 3 day weekend and I'm pretty sure I didn't accomplish anything. Other than a long run on Saturday in which I wore pants and it was the worst idea ever as it was humid as heck out. Anyways more about my Colorado trip. So when I first got to Denver we ventured out into the mountains...by car though. It was absolutely crazy. It was sunny and warm in Broomfield, then we drove through rain, and then snow. Yeah thats right I said snow. Also I saw signs that said icy roads. And plenty of these.

Yeah apparently people lose their brakes all the time because the grades are so steep and the roads so curvy that they burn them up going downhill. 

So after the fun of envisioning every semi around us losing control and running us over, we stopped in Dillon where I got out of the car to a temperature of about 35 degrees. Was not prepared for it. Had amazing views though.

After that we drove and drove some more back through the stupid snow, runaway trucks and icy roads back to the land of warm and non snow and stopped outside of Boulder at Boulder Falls where I saw my first real life waterfall. Apparently I don't get out much. F you Zoli. 

I thoroughly enjoyed driving through the mountains everyday. The views never get old. Anyways we ate dinner in Boulder at  a microbrewery where I learned my fate for that night as the delish microbrews and their high alcohol content combined with the altitude would  kick my ass. And they did. However I loved having so many awesome brews on tap. I kinda miss that. Here are some pics for that night.

(My wonderful hosts for the weekend)

  (Yay mini high school reunion...too bad I barely remember asking someone to take this pic)

To go along with the theme of not remembering anything apparently when we got home I got into the biggest argument with Zoli about the move and book Into The Wild. Because I kept demanding to know why there was a grown man on the cover when it's about a little kid. Obviously he had no idea what I was talking about but I kept insisting Into The Wild is about a kid and the giant puppet friends that he has. Finally it clicked...except that I was talking about Where The Wild Things Are. Not Into The Wild. Then I guess I fell asleep/passed out. Still, I woke up like a champion and went hiking in the morning. 

Post hiking Sunday, we decided to stay in as we were both tired and I was being a whiny baby about my sore shoulders from my stupid back pack and watched Leprechaun 5: In The Hood. Don't act like you're not jealous. I discovered that night if you mix vodka with Gatorade you can't taste the vodka. Zoli discovered that while drinking a whole bottle of Jameson is an admiral ambition, it will destroy you in the end. 

This is a little of my amazing last dinner in Colorado. Fish and chips at this place called Tommyknocker Brewery & Pub in Idaho Springs. Oh it was the most glorious thing I've ever had the pleasure of eating. And yes I ate the whole thing...and paid for it. It was well worth it though :)

All in all Colorado rocks and I can't wait to go back. It has inspired to me to take up mountain biking....we'll see how that goes. I haven't ridden a bike in....well I'm pretty sure it's been over a decade. First investment should be a helmet. Haha.

Have a good week everyone! Dam to Dam is this Saturday!

Cheers!


Marisa

Thankful Tuesday/ I'm Back!

Hello! Long time no blog. Sads I know, but I have been sooo busy/....well just not around. But! I have every intention of staying in Des Moines this week and weekend so we are back to our regularly scheduled program...for now. I know I know I still haven't done Part 3. I was with Will this weekend and I looked through the pics and well, I can honestly say I don't remember any of them. Don't worry I will post them eventually (once WILL posts them eventually) because they are funny. I just don't have any stories to go along with them because I don't remember where/when/why we took them. I told Will he's ruining my internet fame and I'll have no blog friends if he doesn't do it quick (thats what she said) but, this week is his finals for law school (he graduates May 28th!) so I'm not going to bug him to much about it. Alright on to things I'm thankful for this week:

1.) Caffeine. I have drank more redbulls in the last two weeks than I probably have in the last 2 years. This traveling business is wearing me out!

2.) Fans. It is crazy hot here in Iowa (90 degrees!) and I couldn't be happier for a ceiling fan in every room and my awesome window fan. My cats love it too.

3.) My mom. Without her I wouldn't be here writing this blog. (Happy late Mother's Day!)

4.) Free laundry in my apartment. I think I take this for granted but it's something a lot of other apartment renters don't have. It's amazing. I can't imagine ever going back to the old college days of homework and snacks at midnight in the laundromat.

5.) Blue Moon. I'm so excited that it's patio weather and nothing is more refreshing than a blue moon on a patio. Ahhhhh..........

I'm so glad to be back. I've missed all of you. I hope everyone had a great weekend and Mother's Day!

Cheers!

Marisa

BRB

Hello lovlies! Sorry I've been a bad blogger/blog friend. I have been crazy busy this week and am heading out of town tomorrow, so my apologies!  I'm meeting up with Will in his old college town this weekend and he will either give me the pics from the wedding weekend or I will beat them out of him. Either way I will get them and finish up this nonesense. Have a great weekend everyone, enjoy the nice weather my fellow Iowans!

Cheers,

Marisa

The Hangover- Part 2

Okay on to Part 2. Wedding Day! So basically I woke up and was like oh my god what happened last night? My head seriously felt like it would explode at any second. Like any sudden movement and BOOM no more head. Will felt the same. So at least I was in good company. We did absolutely nothing exciting the whole day and couldn't even be bothered to head down to breakfast so we had it brought to us. 

(hooray for being a lazy hungover bum)

However due to the inability to get out of bed, Will and I rediscovered an old love of a television show.

(We seriously watched this for hours. Don't act like you're not jealous.)

(via google)

Okay obviously the rest of our morning was lame and I won't bore you. Finally almost feeling better, we get ready and head for the wedding. It was at Wartburg College in Waverly Iowa, which is a nice little town and the campus was cute. The wedding was nice, her dress was gorgeous and I love when people look so happy :)

So because we are drunks were thirsty and hungry and had time to kill before the reception we stopped at the Applebee's in town and got some appetizers....and maybe a drink. Don't judge me. Because now it's on to the reception where a very good time was had that I shall just display in pictures. ( Don't worry I have a great story at the end.)

(And the evening started off so lovely...)

(The lovely couple we got to spend the weekend with)

(Then maybe some drinks were had)

(Okay as you can see a lot of drinks were had)

(Then the boys had a dance off)

(And then there was a photo shoot with "Uncle Denny")

So here's the story. We were about to leave and head out to the bars because as I said we are drunks were thirsty. But before we left Will wanted to take a picture with "Uncle Denny", because who wouldn't want a picture with a huge mobster looking guy with no shirt on under his sports coat? So he gives me his camera and I proceed to snap a few pics. As I'm doing this Uncle Denny's "woman" comes up to me :

"And whyyyy are we taking pictures?"

Me: Oh we're about to leave and the guys wanted to take a pic before we go.

"No, I know what my man is doing. What is yours doing?"

Me: Excuse me??????

"Do they even know him?"

Me: Um, that's Matt's (the groom) Uncle they're really good friends of his?

Apparently that satisfied her because she walked away. Still Heather and I looked at each other like, did that really just happen? Were we almost in a fight?

This was honestly one of the funnest weddings I've ever attended. I think maybe it was just my company :) Congrats to Matt and Jamie and thanks for the great times!

Stay tuned for Part 3-Post Wedding Party!

Cheers!

Marisa

p.s all pictures are from Heather unless specified, because Will is a lazy bum and STILL HASN'T UPLOADED HIS!!!!!!!!!!